< previous page page_321 next page >

Page 321
a little herself during the dancing and entertainments that would celebrate the Twelve Days, and she might do a little with the wives of those men who had wives, if they had brought them to Winchester. However, a woman's word counted for little in such matters.
Alinor needed a man, a man loyal to her, who would not be overly scrupulous in what he hinted about the king. Sir Giles would have been perfect, but Alinor had already decided he must stay where he was. Besides, Sir Giles had been involved in the original trouble with John. His sudden appearance at court would arouse sharp suspicions in the king. It might even spark so much animosity in him that he would forget appearances and move openly to attack Ian.
More cheering drew Alinor's attention. The king had appointed William, Earl of Arundel, to lead the "loyal opposition." It was another nice touch. Arundel was a competent man in battle, who was certainly no enemy of Ian's or Alinor's. He had known Simon well, and they had worked together in the administration of Sussex where Arundel held large estates when Simon was sheriff. Alinor curved her lips into a smile, acknowledging to those who bothered to look at her that she approved the king's choice as a suitable and yet not dangerous opponent for her husband. Suitable he certainly wasfor the king's purposes. Alinor knew Arundel fairly well herself. The only subject upon which he was competent was fighting. For the rest, his head might as well have been a block of wood. Still, Arundel in himself was not dangerous, even if John should manage without his knowledge to seed his party with men who hated Ian. They were opponents. Ian would be prepared to guard himself against them. What Alinor feared was those who would join Ian's party, either to run him through from behind when no one would see or to desert him at a crucial moment.
Arundel, Arundel. The words seemed to echo in Alinor's mind, and pleasantly at that. Was there some-

 
< previous page page_321 next page >